Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00095
The R3 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act framework. It traces back to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, which originally focused on wildlife habitat restoration, wildlife management research, and sharing information generated by those projects. In 1970, Congress expanded that authority to explicitly support hunter safety programs and the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. Later, Congress concluded that states needed more dedicated support to keep hunter education and shooting range opportunities strong, especially as participation, recruitment, and long-term hunting traditions faced modern challenges. That concern led to the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000, which created the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program (commonly referred to as “Section 10”).
At its core, Section 10 sets aside dedicated annual funding (initially $7.5 million in 2001 and 2002, and $8 million each year thereafter in the description provided) for states to enhance existing hunter education and shooting range efforts. The key word is enhance: these funds are intended to supplement, not replace, the standard Pittman-Robertson hunter education funding (often referenced as Section 4(c)). Congress’s intent was to make sure states not only had baseline hunter education programs, but also invested consistent effort in recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) activities, safety instruction, and range capacity so future participation in hunting and shooting sports remained viable.
Eligible applicants are limited to state governments, specifically state fish and game agencies (as indicated in the title). The program supports a broad set of activities that strengthen hunter education, hunter development, and firearm and archery safety. “Hunter development” is framed as recruitment and introduction work, helping new participants get involved in hunting, bowhunting, target shooting, or archery in a safe and structured way. The program also allows funding to improve interstate coordination, which can include collaborative work across states to align training standards, share curricula, or coordinate range and education initiatives that cross borders.
The grant can be used to enhance bowhunter and archer education and safety, and it also has a clear infrastructure component. States may use funds to construct or develop firearm and archery ranges and related facilities, and to update safety features at existing ranges. That can include building or improving classrooms, shooting ranges, and other supporting facilities needed to deliver instruction. In addition, the program recognizes the importance of program improvement and evaluation, allowing states to gather information needed to develop, implement, and assess hunter education and safety grants. It also explicitly includes trapper education when tied to safety and responsibility, humane trapping methods, avoiding non-target species, and developing trapping skills. Finally, it supports communication and outreach about Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) grant-funded hunter education and recreational shooting sports activities, reinforcing public awareness and participation.
From the opportunity metadata provided, this funding opportunity is listed as F17AS00095, categorized as a mandatory grant in the Education and Natural Resources activity areas, under CFDA 15.626. The agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The original closing date shown is 2017-08-31, and an award ceiling of $5,000,000 is listed, though the number of expected awards is shown as 0 in the source snapshot (which may reflect how the listing was recorded rather than the broader Section 10 apportionment process). Overall, the program is designed to strengthen state-led hunter and shooting sports education systems by improving safety training, expanding or upgrading ranges and training facilities, supporting data-driven program management, and increasing coordinated efforts that keep hunting and archery participation safe and sustainable over time.Apply for F17AS00095
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "R3 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program (TO STATE F&G AGENCIES ONLY)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.626.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-12-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-08-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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R3 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program (Section 10) FAQs
What is the R3 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program?
The R3 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act framework. It is commonly referred to as the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program or "Section 10."
Which federal agency administers this grant program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What law or authority created and shaped this program?
The program traces back to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937. In 1970, Congress expanded authority to explicitly support hunter safety programs and firearm and archery ranges. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 created the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program (Section 10).
Why was Section 10 created?
Congress concluded states needed more dedicated support to keep hunter education and shooting range opportunities strong, especially as recruitment, retention, and long-term hunting traditions faced modern challenges. Section 10 was created to provide dedicated funding to enhance these efforts.
What does "R3" mean in the program context?
In this program context, "R3" refers to recruitment, retention, and reactivation activities intended to bring new participants into hunting and shooting sports, keep existing participants engaged, and encourage former participants to return.
What is the core purpose of Section 10 funding?
The core purpose is to enhance existing state hunter education and shooting range efforts by strengthening safety instruction, improving range capacity and facilities, supporting hunter development (including recruitment and introduction), and enabling evaluation and improvement of education and safety programs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to state governments, specifically state fish and game agencies (as indicated by the opportunity title and description).
Can local governments, nonprofits, schools, or private organizations apply directly?
Based on the information provided, eligibility is limited to state governments (state fish and game agencies). No other applicant types are identified as eligible applicants in the provided description.
Are these funds meant to replace other Pittman-Robertson hunter education funds?
No. The funds are intended to supplement, not replace, standard Pittman-Robertson hunter education funding (often referenced as Section 4(c)). The emphasis is on enhancing and expanding efforts beyond baseline programming.
What types of hunter education activities can be supported?
The program supports activities that strengthen hunter education, hunter development, and firearm and archery safety. This includes enhancing bowhunter and archer education and safety and supporting structured, safe introduction to hunting, bowhunting, target shooting, or archery.
What is meant by "hunter development" under this program?
Hunter development is framed as recruitment and introduction work that helps new participants get involved in hunting, bowhunting, target shooting, or archery in a safe and structured way.
Does the program support improvements to shooting ranges?
Yes. The program includes an infrastructure component that allows states to construct or develop firearm and archery ranges and related facilities, and to update safety features at existing ranges.
What kinds of facilities can be funded for education and training?
Funds can support building or improving classrooms, shooting ranges, and other supporting facilities needed to deliver instruction, as well as range safety feature upgrades.
Can funds be used for program evaluation or data collection?
Yes. The program allows states to gather information needed to develop, implement, and assess hunter education and safety grants, supporting program improvement and evaluation.
Is trapper education eligible under this opportunity?
Yes. The program explicitly includes trapper education when tied to safety and responsibility, humane trapping methods, avoiding non-target species, and developing trapping skills.
Can the grant be used for communication and outreach?
Yes. The program supports communication and outreach about Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) grant-funded hunter education and recreational shooting sports activities to reinforce public awareness and participation.
Does the program support coordination between states?
Yes. It allows funding to improve interstate coordination, including collaborative work across states to align training standards, share curricula, or coordinate range and education initiatives that cross borders.
How much funding is set aside annually for Section 10?
Section 10 sets aside dedicated annual funding described as initially $7.5 million in 2001 and 2002, and $8 million each year thereafter (as stated in the information provided).
What is the opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The opportunity is listed as F17AS00095 and is associated with CFDA 15.626.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as a mandatory grant, and the activity areas listed include Education and Natural Resources.
What is the listed closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown in the provided metadata is 2017-08-31.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount listed?
The opportunity metadata lists an award ceiling of $5,000,000.
How many awards are expected?
The source snapshot shows the number of expected awards as 0, with the note that this may reflect how the listing was recorded rather than the broader Section 10 apportionment process.
What is the main long-term goal of the program?
The program is designed to strengthen state-led hunter and shooting sports education systems by improving safety training, expanding or upgrading ranges and training facilities, supporting data-driven program management, and increasing coordinated efforts that keep hunting and archery participation safe and sustainable over time.
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| R8 (CA/NV) Wildlife Restoration Grant Program for State Fish and Game Agencies Apply for F16AS00077 Funding Number: F16AS00077 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
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| R8 (CA/NV) Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program for State Fish and Game Agencies Apply for F16AS00078 Funding Number: F16AS00078 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program for State Fish and Game Agencies Apply for F16AS00080 Funding Number: F16AS00080 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| R6 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program TO STATE FISH & GAME AGENCIES ONLY Apply for F16AS00057 Funding Number: F16AS00057 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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